Contestants to battle it out for the R1 million prize money.
South African telecoms company, Cell C, today announced the launch of Hangman, a unique fast-paced online reality show which aims to uncover South Africa’s greatest innovator. The programme offers contestants a chance to win R1 million in prize money. The 10-part Hangman series represents a new genre in unscripted entertainment and follows on the success of Cell C’s first online Break the Net reality talent show which streamed on the service provider’s Cell C Reality App last year.
Jose Dos Santos, Cell C Chief Executive Officer, speaking on the launch said that the programme highlighted how this new venture falls in line with Cell C's strategic focus in bringing relevance to the South African market through service offerings.
Hangman is a global first in interactive, immersive entertainment, it puts viewers in the driver’s seat. By “investing” in a virtual Stock Exchange, they can help determine the outcome of the show, while standing in line to win great viewer prizes including a car.
This new reality show also gives wings to the aspirations of entrepreneurs who have identified a gap in the market and have come up with an innovation that fills that space and want to bring it to the market.
Hangman consists of two different content streams. The first is the actual reality online series which would traditionally be consumed on prime-time TV but is now being streamed live online.
Contestants will have to prove their mettle through a series of gruelling challenges but their fate is determined by more than performance alone. They will have to win the approval of ‘Backers’, captains of industry and investment with keen business acumen and ruthless standards. These include businesswoman Phuti Mahanyele, celebrity economist Iraj Abedian, self-made billionaire Quinton van der Burgh and Bonang Mohale, chairman of Shell South Africa Energy Limited.
“It’s breakneck entertainment that sees contestants put their bodies on the line in the pressure cooker of innovation and turns viewers into real-time investors,” says Bl!nk Pictures director Odette Schwegler who was commissioned by Cell C to produce Hangman, a Cell C original.
Hangman is open to anyone residing or working in South Africa who wants to participate in the competition or just view the series. Simply download the Cell C Reality App on Android or iOS to access the shows and to register for the competition. Access within the App will be zero rated for Cell C customers. Any breakout from the App will be charged as per current data depletion.
The second stream comes in the form of a Stock Exchange called ‘The Exchange’. Viewers can truly immerse themselves in the show, meet the Backers, be inspired by successful innovators and get expert business insights. The hub is constantly updated with “hot off the press” content straight from the Hangman set! To take part in the outcome of the show, win great prizes and rewards, viewers can become virtual investors by trading on The Exchange. They will also help drive the outcome of the competition.
The innovator who succeeds in garnering the support of the Backers, while rallying viewer/‘investor’ sentiment, could walk away with a R1 million cash prize and everything needed to succeed in a 21st century market.
Dos Santos added that, “Cell C is delighted to present this fully interactive and unscripted format with Hangman. It offers the opportunity for viewers to track innovator performance and invest ‘real time’ via a Cell C Stock Exchange App. They can also get involved ‒ up close and personal ‒ by helping contestants win their tasks. We are delighted that as an innovator, Cell C is continuing with the delivery of incredible content.”
Entry is open from June 21 to July 21 with the show streaming online from October 9 to December 11. Contestants and viewers do not need to be a Cell C customer to play or download the App but Cell C customers will receive bonuses for participation and viewing the show.
Staff Writer